Top 10 bizarre trends of the Middle Ages

Every era has its own distinct customs, beliefs and traditions. To be fair, however, there is rarely a period in history that can be considered as outlandish as the Middle Ages.

Medieval wonders

The Middle Ages were marked as an unlucky time to be born and everyone agreed that people were poor, the food rancid, everything was dirty. Yet this period is known to have created some of the strangest, funniest, and most astonishing trends in human history.

1. Animal Court

Life in the Middle Ages can be very difficult, and this applies not only to humans. All kinds of animals from pets to insects are brought to trial if they are suspected of breaking the law. There are records of at least 85 animal trials that took place in the Middle Ages, and stories vary from tragic to absurd, as described in his book "Criminal Prosecution and Punishment of Animals" EP Evans (EP Dutton and Company, 1906).

Medieval court for animals.

The most common serial offenders are pigs, accused and convicted of chewing on body parts and even eating children. Most were found guilty and sentenced to death by hanging or being burned at the stake. In 1386, a condemned pig was put to death wearing a vest, gloves, and a mask.

In 1474, a court found a rooster guilty of 'unnatural' laying eggs.

A donkey that was the victim of unwanted sexual assault has been declared innocent after a strong offer from a convent claiming it was an animal of good character and good manners.

2. Unusual men's fashion and body trend

Clothing was extremely important to the medieval elite, as it was a way of expressing wealth. As a result, many unusual fashion trends have spilled over to Europe, such as long, pointy men's shoes. The longer the life of the shoes, the more wealth of the wearer is shown. Some shoes are so long that they have to be reinforced with whalebone.

Men of the late 14th century loved to show off their bodies through thin and revealing clothes. They often wear short tunics with tights, pants with a pocket attached to the padded front to emphasize their masculinity.

3. Marriage without permission

Medieval people liked to get married, no permission needed

The majority of medieval upper-class marriages were rarely for love, but for political and social gain. And women have almost no voice in society. In fact, men and women are said to be ready for marriage as soon as their bodies enter puberty, at the age of 12 for girls and 14 years for boys.

Couples do not need to ask for permission to get married. They can do it in no time by completely agreeing, leading to marriage on the street, under the pub, or even in bed. This means that it is quite difficult to prove to people that they are indeed married.

It is not unusual for the bride to be carried to bed by her family. The act of "bedding" is not supposed to be an intimate moment, but rather an act that needs to be observed by witnesses.

4. Love in court

As mentioned, most of the medieval marriages of the upper classes were often loveless marriages designed purely for financial and social gain. Thus, medieval nobles satisfied their romantic desires with court affairs.

This wedding was held in the presence of court members and couples had extreme actions such as dancing, even holding hands. However, sex was strictly forbidden. Court love was very popular in this period.

5. Divorce by fighting

Couples in medieval Germany wasted no time in resolving their conflicts. Instead of just arguing like any normal couple, they took to the ring. Trial by single combat is a common way to resolve disagreements, and when married couples fight, there are strange restrictions, such as the husband having to stand in a hole with one hand behind his back, while his wife ran around with a sack full of rocks.

6. Face without eyebrows, eyelashes

While today many women spend money to accentuate their eyelashes, it was completely different in the Middle Ages. Since the forehead is considered the central point of the face, women trim their eyelashes and eyebrows to accentuate it. Some people even pull out all their hair to see the perfect oval face.

7. Death must also be beautiful

The Middle Ages took death very seriously.

People in the Middle Ages were very preoccupied with death, which is understandable if you consider the devout society at the time and the fact that many people became victims of the 'Black Death'.

Death is planned to go peacefully. The dying should accept their fate without despair. Many famous medieval paintings show monks and saints accepting brutal murders with them in serenity.

8. Football without rules

Medieval England had sports-related mob violence before the sport was universally popular.

What we consider football today to be violent, chaotic, and even deadly, in the Middle Ages involved a lot of players, could take place throughout the village and often wasn't a ball being kicked, but of the opposing team. A rule book for "Shrovetide football" lists that, any means can be used to score goals. In 1314, King Edward II decided to ban the game.

9. Rooster wears a hat

The rich people of the Middle Ages loved to eat food served on swans. A favorite dish on the dinner table is a rooster who wears a hat and lets him ride a pig.

10. Festival of Idiots

Many people in medieval Europe joined together for the Festival of Fools in early January. Like most Christian festivals, inspired by a pagan festival - Saturnalia, the most respected officials swap places for the lowest, serving maids become masters. core…

Although this festival was originally intended to be limited to the sacred halls of the churches, the common people held parades, performed comics, sang boisterous songs and of course, drank alcohol. to the point of being too much.